Daily Current Affairs - 14th & 15th November 2025
- TPP
- Nov 15
- 24 min read
Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | Greenland and foreigners' right to property, draft Seeds Bill, 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, Belem Action Plan and more.
If you missed Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) | Sept - Oct 2025, read it here.
Fall in water levels of Lake Turkana |
Recent studies show a fall in water levels of Lake Turkana, caused by climate change.
This fall in water levels has led to increased earthquake activity in the region, linking hydrology to tectonic activity.
When a lake’s water level drops, the reduced weight decreases pressure on the Earth’s crust, which is the outer solid layer of the Earth.
This makes faults more prone to movement, increasing the likelihood of earthquakes, which are sudden tremors along faults.
About Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana is the world’s largest desert lake, meaning it is located in an arid region.
It is also the world’s largest alkaline lake, meaning its water has high pH due to dissolved minerals.
Location: Lake Turkana lies mainly in Kenya, with its northern tip extending into Ethiopia.
Over 90% of its inflow comes from the Omo River, which originates in Ethiopia.
The Lake Turkana National Parks site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997, recognising its global ecological and cultural importance.
Strait of Hormuz |
Iranian forces recently intercepted a tanker carrying high-sulphur gasoil in the Strait of Hormuz.
The tanker was moved towards Iran, highlighting the strategic control exercised in the region.
About Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway situated between Iran and the Musandam Peninsula (Oman).
The Musandam Peninsula is the northeastern extension of the Arabian Peninsula, forming the strait’s southern boundary.
The strait connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, serving as a critical maritime passage.
Strategic importance: Approximately 25% of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making it vital for global energy security.
Greenland limits foreigners' right to property |
Greenland has passed new legislation limiting foreigners’ rights to property.
Only people and companies from Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark can buy property or land-use rights in Greenland.
Non-Danish citizens and foreign companies can buy property only if they have been permanent residents and paid all taxes in Greenland for the previous two years.
The law will come into force on January 1.
Earlier this year, a survey by Danish daily Politiken showed growing U.S. interest in acquiring property in Greenland.
Political Features
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but enjoys wide-ranging autonomy, meaning it governs most of its internal affairs independently.
Greenland is not a member of the European Union.
Geographical neighbors: It is separated from Canada’s Ellesmere Island to the north by only 16 miles, and its nearest European country is Iceland.
Geographical Features
Greenland is the world’s largest island, located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
It has the world’s second-largest ice sheet, after Antarctica.
Greenland lies in the polar zone, where winter temperatures can drop to −50°C, and summer temperatures rarely exceed 10–15°C.
During summer, Greenland experiences 24 hours of sunlight, a phenomenon known as the midnight sun.
Workplace Stress and Rising Diabetes Risk Among India’s Working-Age Adults — One-Liner, Connected Flow |
India has 10.1 crore diabetics as per the ICMR–INDIAB Report 2023.
The incidence of diabetes is rising among younger, urban, working-age adults in India.
Chronic workplace stress keeps the body in a state of heightened alert, which means the stress response stays continuously active.
This heightened alert state elevates cortisol and adrenaline levels, which are key stress hormones.
High cortisol and adrenaline disrupt normal glucose metabolism, causing instability in blood sugar regulation.
These elevated hormones promote fat accumulation around the abdomen, also called central weight gain.
Long commute hours reduce time available for exercise, lowering daily physical activity.
Long commuting also reduces time available for adequate rest, increasing fatigue and metabolic strain.
Irregular meal timing affects digestive processes, creating imbalance in nutrient absorption.
Irregular meals also disrupt calorie utilization, making weight and sugar control difficult.
Sedentary work environments reduce physical movement, which lowers metabolic rate.
Shift work, especially night shifts, disrupts circadian rhythms, which are the body’s internal biological clocks.
Disrupted circadian rhythms lead to reduced insulin sensitivity, meaning cells respond poorly to insulin.
Reduced insulin sensitivity causes unstable blood sugar profiles, increasing diabetes risk.
Diabetes is a chronic non-communicable disease, meaning it is long-term and not spread from person to person.
It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, which is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.
It also occurs when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, leading to high blood sugar.
Type 1 Diabetes involves autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks these cells.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body becomes insulin resistant, meaning cells fail to respond properly to insulin.
In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to compensate, causing elevated blood glucose.
Gestational Diabetes refers to high blood glucose during pregnancy, usually due to pregnancy-related metabolic changes.
The Eat Right India movement by FSSAI promotes healthy eating, encouraging safe and balanced food choices.
The Fit India Movement launched in 2019 promotes a physically active lifestyle, making daily fitness a national priority.
The NPCDCS programme launched in 2010 aims to combat major NCDs, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke.
The Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY scheme provides financial protection for secondary and tertiary care, supporting families during major health needs.
Government prepares draft Seeds Bill 2025 to replace 1966 act and 1983 order |
The Department/Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025.
The Bill is intended to replace the Seeds Act, 1966.
It is also intended to replace the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.
The Bill is aligned with current agricultural and regulatory requirements.
The Bill aims to :
safeguard farmers’ rights.
ensure transparency and accountability in seed supply chains.
regulate seed quality.
ensure farmers’ access to high-quality seeds at affordable rates.
curb the sale of spurious seeds, where spurious seeds refer to fake, misbranded or low-quality seeds.
protect farmers from losses caused by poor-quality seeds.
promote ease of doing business in the seed sector.
Key Regulatory Provisions
A. Mandatory Registration of Seed Varieties
The Bill proposes mandatory registration of all seed varieties.
Registration means official approval of a seed variety after evaluation of its claims.
Section 13 states that no seed shall be sold for sowing or planting unless it is registered.
Seed includes any propagating material used for sowing.
The only exceptions are farmers’ varieties and varieties produced exclusively for export.
Farmers’ variety refers to seed varieties traditionally cultivated and developed by farmers.
Existing varieties that were earlier notified under Section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966 shall be deemed registered under the new law.
The existing law of 1966 had no compulsory registration provision.
B. Quality Standards
Seed varieties must conform to Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards (IMSCS).
IMSCS are national standards specifying minimum genetic purity, germination, physical quality etc.
Institutional Mechanisms
A. Central Seed Committee
The Bill provides for the establishment of a Central Seed Committee.
The Central Seed Committee will be constituted by the Central Government.
Its headquarters will be located in New Delhi.
The Committee will advise the government on seed programming and planning.
It will also advise on seed development, seed production, seed storage, seed processing, and on seed export and import.
B. State Seed Committees
State Seed Committees will be established by State Governments.
Each State Seed Committee will consist of a Chairman.
Each Committee will also include not more than 15 members appointed or nominated by the State Government.
C. Registration Sub-Committees
Registration Sub-Committees will scrutinise claims of seed varieties.
They will recommend kinds or varieties of seeds for registration.
D. National Register of Seed Varieties
A National Register on Seed Varieties will be maintained.
The Register will contain all kinds or varieties of seeds approved under the law.
The Register will be under the control and management of the Registrar.
E. Seed Testing Infrastructure
The Bill provides for Central Seed Testing Laboratories.
It also provides for State Seed Testing Laboratories.
These laboratories will be equipped with Seed Analysts.
They will also be staffed with Seed Inspectors.
Seed Analyst refers to an expert who tests seed quality parameters.
Seed Inspector refers to an official who enforces seed laws and conducts inspections.
Offences and Penalties
A. Categorisation of Offences: Offences are categorised as trivial, minor, and major.
Major Offences:-
Supplying spurious seeds
Supplying non-registered kinds or varieties
Conducting seed business without registration as a dealer, distributor, producer, seed processor or plant nursery is classified as a major offence.
B. Penalties
Major offences may invite a maximum penalty of ₹30 lakh.
Major offences may also invite imprisonment of up to three years.
The Bill aims to deter the sale of poor-quality seeds through strong penalties.
Legislative Background
The Centre had previously introduced Seeds Bills in 2004 and 2019.
These earlier Bills could not become law.
Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025 |
The Ministry of Electronics and IT has notified the DPDP Rules, 2025, marking the final operationalization of the DPDP Act, 2023.
The notification of these rules fulfils compliance with the 2017 Supreme Court judgment in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, which affirmed privacy as a fundamental right.
Key Highlights of DPDP Rules, 2025
The rules strengthen the rights of Data Principals, who are individuals whose personal data is being processed.
Data Principals are given the right to access their personal data, enabling transparency.
They are also given the right to correct their personal data, ensuring accuracy.
They further receive the right to update their personal data, allowing changes over time.
They also have the right to erase personal data, supporting privacy and autonomy.
The rules introduce a phased implementation mechanism, ensuring smoother adaptation.
This mechanism grants an 18-month compliance window, giving organisations adequate time for transition.
The rules require clear and standalone consent notices, ensuring that consent is meaningful.
These notices must be purpose-specific, meaning they explain the exact reason for data collection.
These notices must also use simple language, so that individuals can easily understand them.
The rules establish a Data Protection Board (DPB) as the enforcement authority.
The DPB will function as a fully digital institution, making operations more accessible.
Citizens will be able to file complaints online, ensuring ease of grievance redressal.
Citizens will also be able to track complaints through a digital portal and a mobile app, enabling transparency.
About the DPDP Act, 2023
The DPDP Act, 2023 establishes a comprehensive framework for digital personal data protection, ensuring lawful data processing.
The Act defines Data Fiduciaries as entities that determine the purpose and means of processing personal data.
It also defines Data Principals as individuals to whom the personal data relates.
Scope of the Act
The Act covers the processing of digital personal data within India, ensuring national jurisdiction.
It applies to data that is collected in digital form, covering direct digital collection.
It also applies to data collected in non-digital form but later digitised, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
The Act further applies to processing of personal data outside India, when activities target Indian users.
This includes situations where goods or services are offered in India, making the law extraterritorial in nature.
Obligations of Data Fiduciaries
A Data Fiduciary must obtain explicit user consent before processing personal data, ensuring informed decision-making.
The Act requires verifiable parental or guardian consent when processing data of children or persons with disabilities.
Enforcement Mechanisms
The Data Protection Board (DPB) is empowered to handle personal data breach complaints, ensuring accountability.
The DPB has civil court powers, meaning it can issue summons, examine evidence, and pass binding orders.
PM pays tributes to Birsa Munda on 150th birth anniversary |
The Prime Minister paid tributes to Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary.
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is being celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
The Government of India declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021.
About Birsa Munda
Early Life
Birsa Munda was born in 1875 in Ulihatu, located in the Khunti district of present-day Jharkhand.
His birth name was Daud Munda.
He belonged to the Munda tribe, a major tribal community of the Chhotanagpur Plateau.
The Chhotanagpur Plateau is the tribal heartland of present-day Jharkhand.
His Teachings and Beliefs
Birsa founded a new sect called Birsait.
He preached monotheism, meaning belief in one God.
He worked to revive tribal faith, especially traditional Munda religious practices.
He rejected the growing influence of Christian missionaries on tribal culture.
He promoted strict moral discipline among his followers.
He emphasized cleanliness as a core personal value.
He encouraged hard work as a guiding principle.
He asked people to avoid alcohol, which he considered harmful.
He advocated purity in personal life.
He stressed purity in social life as well.
Contribution to Colonial Resistance
Birsa led the Munda Rebellion, which is also known as the Ulgulan Movement.
The term Ulgulan means “Great Tumult”, referring to a mass uprising.
He became revered as Bhagwan (God) by his followers.
He received the title Dharti Aaba, meaning “Father of Earth” among the Mundas.
Death and Legacy
Birsa died due to an illness on 9 June 1900 in Ranchi Jail.
His movement contributed to the repeal of the begar system, where forced unpaid labour was imposed.
His struggle led to the Tenancy Act of 1903, which recognised the traditional Khuntkatti system of land ownership.
The term Khuntkatti refers to lineage-based community land ownership among the Mundas.
The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908 later banned the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals.
About the Munda Rebellion (Ulgulan)
Timeline and Objective
Birsa Munda mobilised tribes from Chhotanagpur, Bengal and Odisha from 1895 onwards.
He aimed to establish an independent Munda Raj, meaning a self-ruled tribal state.
He inspired resistance against Dikus, a term used for outsiders like moneylenders, traders and missionaries.
He also inspired resistance against European colonial officials.
Major Reasons for the Revolt
The introduction of the Zamindari system disrupted traditional tribal land rights.
The Zamindari system replaced the Mundari Khuntkatti system, which was their community-based land ownership structure.
The change in policies introduced Beth Begari, meaning forced and unpaid labour.
It also led to widespread bonded labour among tribal communities.
There was severe exploitation by Dikus, who included moneylenders, traders and missionaries.
Missionaries often criticised traditional tribal culture, which created resentment.
Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation |
The Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation was launched at COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
It is the first international climate adaptation document focused specifically on health, marking a global milestone.
Key Highlights
The plan aims to strengthen global health systems, enabling them to cope better with climate change impacts.
The plan is structured around the principle of health equity, which means fair access to health regardless of socioeconomic status.
It is also structured around the concept of climate justice, which ensures that vulnerable populations are not disproportionately affected.
The plan emphasises leadership and governance on climate and health, ensuring coordinated decision-making.
It also promotes social participation, meaning communities are actively involved in climate–health planning.
Three Lines of Action for Climate-Resilient Health Systems
The first line of action focuses on surveillance and monitoring, which involves tracking health risks through data.
It promotes climate-informed early warning systems, enabling timely alerts for climate-related health threats.
It also establishes integrated data platforms, ensuring unified and accessible climate–health information.
The second line of action stresses evidence-based policy, which means decisions guided by scientific research.
It includes capacity building through workforce upskilling, ensuring health workers can respond to climate risks.
It promotes gender-responsive and equity-driven health policies, ensuring fairness across gender and social groups.
It integrates mental health support and psychosocial care, addressing climate-linked stress and trauma.
The third line of action focuses on innovation and production, encouraging new climate-resilient solutions.
It promotes resilient health infrastructure, which can withstand climate shocks.
It supports just transitions, ensuring that climate solutions do not harm workers or vulnerable communities.
It emphasises sustainable supply chains, ensuring continuity of medicines and health equipment.
It also includes return-on-investment frameworks, which evaluate economic benefits of adaptation measures.
Funding
About 35 philanthropies announced support under the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, showing global financial backing.
These philanthropies made an initial commitment of US $300 million, enabling implementation of the action plan.
Need for a Climate–Health Adaptation Plan
Climate change is already creating a global health emergency, as rising temperatures intensify health hazards.
Over 540,000 people die from extreme heat each year, showing the scale of climate-linked mortality.
Around 1 in 12 hospitals worldwide faces the risk of climate-related shutdowns, threatening medical access.
About 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, indicating massive human exposure.
Hospitals are facing a 41% higher risk of damage from extreme weather, increasing system fragility.
India’s Position on Climate Finance at UNFCCC COP30 (Belém, Brazil) |
India delivered statements on behalf of the BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India, China).
India also delivered statements on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) group.
India highlighted that climate finance remains a key barrier to enhanced climate ambition for developing nations.
India’s Key Calls and Demands
India called for a clear and universally agreed definition of climate finance.
Climate finance refers to financial resources provided to support mitigation and adaptation actions addressing climate change.
India demanded strengthened and scaled-up public finance flows for adaptation.
India noted that adaptation finance needs to increase nearly fifteen times above current levels.
Adaptation finance supports efforts to reduce climate vulnerability and build resilience in developing nations.
India sought a strong outcome on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).
The GGA, introduced under Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, aims to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce climate vulnerability.
India stressed the full implementation of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement.
Article 9.1 legally obligates developed countries to provide financial resources to developing countries for mitigation and adaptation.
India called for a strong outcome on the Technology Implementation Programme, which emerged from the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement.
India emphasised that intellectual property and market barriers must not hinder the transfer of climate technologies to developing nations.
India underlined the need to narrow the development gap between the Global North and Global South.
India urged that the UNFCCC Just Transitions Work Programme must lead to action-oriented institutional arrangements.
A just transition ensures equitable and inclusive shifts to low-carbon economies, without leaving vulnerable communities behind.
Internationally Agreed Climate Finance Targets
India referenced the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T agreed at COP29.
Under this roadmap, Parties agreed to mobilise at least $300 billion per year in climate finance for developing countries by 2035.
The roadmap also established a broader target of at least $1.3 trillion in total external finance per year by 2035.
India highlighted the Glasgow Climate Pact commitment.
Under this commitment, developed countries must provide $40 billion in adaptation funding for developing nations by 2025.
Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change (COP30) |
The Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change was launched at COP30, marking a major global step on climate-related information governance.
The declaration is part of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, which is a multilateral collaboration among States and international organizations.
A multilateral collaboration means cooperation involving multiple countries and international bodies working toward a shared goal.
This initiative was announced at the G20 Leaders Summit in 2024, establishing its high-level political backing.
The initiative aims to fund research focused on improving the accuracy and trustworthiness of climate-related information.
It also aims to support actions that strengthen information integrity, which refers to the reliability, accuracy, and transparency of information shared with the public.
The initiative has launched a Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change to financially support these efforts.
The Declaration recognises that climate misinformation has become a climate crisis, elevating it as a global risk.
Climate misinformation means false, misleading, or deceptive content regarding climate change, its causes, impacts, or solutions.
The Declaration commits governments to protect climate science, ensuring that scientific knowledge is safeguarded from manipulation.
The Declaration commits governments to ensure transparent public communication, which means that information shared with citizens must be clear, accurate, and evidence-based.
Study offers a promising new method to repair spinal fractures using Stem Cells |
A new study offers a promising method to repair spinal fractures using stem cells.
The study reports that stem cells extracted from adipose tissue (defined as body fat) can help heal osteoporosis-related fractures in humans.
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones weak and fragile.
Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can self-renew indefinitely.
Stem cells can also differentiate into mature cells with specialized functions.
In humans, stem cells have been identified in the inner cell mass of the early embryo.
Stem cells are also present in some fetal tissues, the umbilical cord, and the placenta.
Stem cells additionally exist in several adult organs.
The key types of stem cells include Pluripotent Stem Cells and Non-embryonic/Somatic/Adult Stem Cells.
Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into all cells of the adult body.
Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) are found in the embryo 3–5 days post-fertilization.
ESCs exist before implantation and contain an inner cell mass.
The inner cell mass of ESCs can generate all specialized tissues of the human body.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) are created by introducing embryonic genes into a somatic cell.
A somatic cell (for example, a skin cell) reverts to a stem-cell-like state through this process.
Stem cells have unique regenerative abilities that allow them to be guided into specific cell types.
These guided cells can then regenerate or repair damaged tissues.
Stem cells also help generate specific human tissues for in vitro drug screening.
In vitro drug screening involves testing drug effects and toxicity outside the body.
Researchers also use stem cells to understand diseases.
Disease understanding improves when scientists observe stem cells growing into mature cells such as bone, heart muscle, or nerve cells.
Adult Stem Cells (ASCs) are undifferentiated cells found in a tissue or organ.
ASCs can differentiate to yield specialized cell types of the same tissue or organ.
Neural Stem Cells are a key type of adult stem cell.
Skin Stem Cells are another important type of adult stem cell.
Global Carbon Budget 2025 |
The Global Carbon Budget 2025 report states that India’s emissions grew slower in 2025.
India’s emission growth slowed to 1.4%, indicating a reduced acceleration.
The slowdown occurred partly due to monsoon cooling, which lowers energy demand.
The slowdown was also influenced by growth in renewable energy, which reduces fossil-fuel dependence.
The report is published by the Global Carbon Project, which is an international scientific collaboration tracking carbon emissions.
Key Highlights of the Report
India is the third largest emitter of carbon, reflecting its significant global contribution.
India emits 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon annually in 2024, according to the report.
The largest emitter is the United States at 4.9 billion tonnes, showing high national emissions.
The second largest emitter is China at 12 billion tonnes, representing the highest global emissions.
India’s per capita emissions are 2.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, indicating relatively low individual contribution.
This figure is the second lowest among the 20 largest global economies, highlighting India’s low per-person emissions.
Coal is the major fuel type contributing to India’s emissions, showing reliance on coal-based energy.
Saranda Forest |
The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to notify Saranda Forest as a wildlife sanctuary, providing it legal protection.
The Court also ordered notification of Saranda Forest as a conservation reserve, strengthening habitat security.
The Court further prohibited any mining activity within a one-kilometre radius of its boundary, ensuring ecological safety.
About Saranda Forest
Saranda is known as the “land of seven hundred hills,” highlighting its rugged terrain.
It is a lush Sal forest, where Sal (Shorea robusta) is the dominant tree species.
Saranda is located in Jharkhand, forming part of India’s eastern forest belt.
The forest is part of the Chhotanagpur bio-geographic zone, which is a natural region defined by common ecological characteristics.
Its landscape merges with forests of Odisha, showing interstate ecological continuity.
Its landscape also merges with forests of Chhattisgarh, forming a connected forest ecosystem.
Saranda is home to Ho tribes, who are indigenous communities of the region.
It is also inhabited by the Munda tribes, known for their rich cultural heritage.
It further includes the Uraon tribes, who depend on forests for livelihood.
The forest is also inhabited by Santhal tribes, one of India’s major tribal groups.
Major rivers draining the forest include the Karo River, supporting local hydrology.
Another important river is the Koina River, which flows through the forest landscape.
The Lailor River also forms part of the region’s drainage network.
Saranda Forest is crucial for the movement of the Central Indian elephant population, serving as a key migration corridor.
It is also home to unique orchids, indicating high floral diversity.
The Ligarda swamp hosts rare vegetation, making it an ecologically sensitive zone.
This swamp contains rare palm species, contributing to botanical richness.
It also contains wild banana species, which are uncommon in this region.
The swamp supports diverse fern species, indicating moist habitat conditions.
It further hosts Piper species, which are plants belonging to the pepper family.
Hepatitis A |
Hepatitis A has become a growing cause of acute liver failure in India, indicating rising public health concern.
About Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver, meaning the liver becomes swollen and damaged.
This inflammation can cause mild illness, affecting normal liver function only slightly.
It can also cause severe illness, leading to serious liver impairment.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food, making food hygiene essential.
It is also transmitted through ingestion of contaminated water, highlighting the role of sanitation.
Transmission can additionally occur through direct sexual contact with an infectious person, especially in close physical interactions.
Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A, indicating high natural recovery rates.
People who recover develop lifelong immunity, meaning they do not get infected again.
A small proportion of patients may develop fulminant hepatitis, which is a sudden and severe form of liver failure.
Fulminant hepatitis can lead to death, despite being rare.
Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease, unlike some other viral hepatitis types.
This is because hepatitis A infection does not persist long-term, making it an acute illness only.
A vaccine is available for hepatitis A, providing effective prevention.
A vaccine is also available for hepatitis B, supporting long-term protection.
However, no vaccine is available for hepatitis C, which remains harder to prevent.
Iceland has declared the potential collapse of AMOC |
Iceland has declared the potential collapse of AMOC as a national security threat, showing the severity of the risk.
About AMOC
The AMOC is a system of ocean currents, meaning it is a large-scale movement of seawater.
This system circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, creating a continuous flow pattern.
The AMOC brings warm water northward, raising temperatures in northern regions.
It also brings cold water southward, helping maintain global thermal balance.
The AMOC is powered by differences in water temperature, which influence water density.
It is also powered by differences in salinity, where salt levels help drive sinking and rising of water masses.
The circulation distributes heat throughout the world’s ocean basins, affecting global climate.
It also distributes nutrients across oceans, supporting marine ecosystems.
Impacts of Weakening or Collapse
A weakening AMOC can cool Europe, reducing regional temperatures significantly.
It can also change precipitation patterns in parts of Europe, altering rainfall distribution.
A weakened AMOC can change precipitation patterns in South America, affecting ecosystems and agriculture.
It can similarly change precipitation patterns in Africa, disrupting regional climate.
A collapse of AMOC can affect the timing of the Indian monsoon, causing delays or variability.
The collapse can also shift the tropical rain belt southward, altering rainfall zones.
This shift can cause droughts over the African Sahel, increasing water scarcity.
India has operationalised the Mudh-Nyoma airbase |
India has operationalised the Mudh-Nyoma airbase in Ladakh, strengthening its defence capabilities.
This operationalisation enhances India’s preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, improving strategic response.
About Mudh-Nyoma Airbase
The airbase is located in eastern Ladakh, a key high-altitude region.
It is situated at nearly 13,000 feet, making it one of the highest military airstrips.
The airbase lies very close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which is the de-facto border between India and China.
The airbase directly overlooks critical approaches in the region, giving it strategic value.
One such approach includes the Depsang Plains, a sensitive area near the northern LAC.
Another critical area it overlooks is the Pangong Tso sector, known for frequent stand-offs.
It also overlooks the Chushul Valley, a historically important military zone.
The airbase was built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is responsible for infrastructure in border areas.
Mudh-Nyoma is the fourth major airbase in Ladakh, expanding the region’s aviation network.
It complements the Leh airbase, which serves as Ladakh’s main air logistics hub.
It also complements the Kargil airbase, which supports western Ladakh operations.
It further complements the Thoise airbase, which is essential for Siachen and northern-sector logistics.
Related Story | India Withdraws from Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan
Anti-Defection Law |
The Calcutta High Court recently disqualified an MLA under the Anti-Defection Law, reaffirming the law’s enforcement.
About Anti-Defection Law
The Anti-Defection Law was inserted through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, marking a major political reform.
It was introduced as the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, giving it constitutional backing.
The law was created to prevent political defections, which means switching parties for political gain.
Grounds for Disqualification
A member can be disqualified for voluntarily giving up party membership, even without a formal resignation.
A member can also be disqualified for voting against party directions, which are officially called whips.
A member can be disqualified for abstaining from voting against party directions, when the party has issued instructions.
An elected member is disqualified if they join another political party, after winning on a particular party ticket.
A nominated member is disqualified if they join a political party after six months, which is the allowed neutral period.
Exception to Disqualification
The law provides an exception called merger, which allows party switching without penalty.
A merger is valid when two-thirds or more of the legislators of a party agree to merge, meeting the required threshold.
Role of Presiding Officer
The Speaker or Chairman decides questions of disqualification, giving them primary authority under the law.
Their decision is considered final, unless reviewed by the courts.
Judicial Review
The Supreme Court in Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992) held that judicial review is permitted.
The judgment stated that courts can intervene if the Speaker delays action, ensuring accountability in the process.
Climate and Health Funders Coalition (CHFC) |
The Climate and Health Funders Coalition (CHFC) has committed an initial $300 million, signalling strong global financial support.
This commitment aims to promote integrated action on climate change, addressing environmental drivers of health risks.
The commitment also aims to tackle the health consequences of climate change, which include rising disease and mortality burdens.
About CHFC
The CHFC brings together institutional funders, meaning large organisations that support climate–health initiatives.
It also brings together individual funders, who contribute independently at various levels.
These funders operate at the international level, supporting global climate–health action.
They also operate at the national level, addressing country-specific climate risks.
They further operate at the regional level, focusing on geographically shared climate challenges.
The coalition aims to improve health, by reducing climate-related health hazards.
It also aims to save lives, by supporting preventive and adaptive health measures.
The committed funders include Bloomberg Philanthropies, a major global philanthropy group.
The funders also include the Gates Foundation, known for health and development support.
Immediate Focus Areas
One immediate focus area is extreme heat, which causes rising mortality and illness.
Another focus area is air pollution, which leads to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The coalition also focuses on climate-sensitive infectious diseases, which spread more rapidly due to warming.
A further focus is critical climate and health data for decision makers, enabling evidence-based policy.
Deflation & Wholesale Price Index (WPI) |
Wholesale prices in India fell to a 27-month low in October, indicating a slowdown in price growth.
This fall slipped the economy back into deflation, reflecting a general drop in prices.
About Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures changes in prices in the wholesale market, where goods are traded in bulk.
WPI considers only basic prices, excluding taxes, rebates, trade discounts, transport, and other charges.
WPI is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, which is part of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
The Department operates under the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, overseeing trade and industry in India.
The base year of WPI is 2011-12, which is used as a reference point for price comparisons over time.
About Deflation
Deflation is a sustained decrease in the general price level of goods and services in an economy.
It is essentially negative inflation, meaning prices are falling instead of rising.
US Government Shutdown |
The US President signed a stopgap bill, ending the longest shutdown of the US government in history.
About Government Shutdowns
A government shutdown occurs when the legislative branch fails to pass essential budgetary or appropriations bills, which are required to fund and authorize executive branch operations.
Impact of shutdowns: They lead to the cessation of some or all operations of a government, affecting public services and federal employees.
Shutdowns are generally a feature of the Presidential System, where there is a strict separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.
In contrast, shutdowns do not occur in Parliamentary systems, like India, because the executive is drawn from and dependent on the confidence of the legislature.
NSA of India has invited Bangladesh to the CSC |
The National Security Advisor (NSA) of India has invited Bangladesh to the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) meeting in New Delhi.
About Colombo Security Conclave
The CSC is a regional security grouping that was established in 2020.
Its objective is to promote regional security by addressing transnational threats and challenges of common concern to the member states.
The members of CSC are India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives, with Bangladesh recently joining.
Seychelles participates as an observer nation, which means it can attend meetings but does not have full membership rights.
CSC functions around five pillars of cooperation, which include Maritime Security, Countering Terrorism, Combating Transnational Organised Crime, Cyber Security, and Humanitarian Assistance.
One-Stop Travel System |
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has approved a landmark One-Stop Travel System to streamline movement across member states.
About Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
The GCC was established in 1981.
It comprises six Gulf states: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Its objectives are to promote coordination, integration, and inter-connection between member states in all fields.
About One-Stop Travel System
The system enables travellers to complete all procedures—immigration, customs, and security—at a single checkpoint before departure.
Immigration refers to official processes for entering or leaving a country.
Customs involves inspection and regulation of goods being transported across borders.
Security checks ensure the safety of travellers and compliance with regulations.
Exercise Garuda-2025 |
Exercise Garuda-2025 is being held in France.
Exercise Garuda is a bilateral air exercise, meaning a joint training operation between two countries’ air forces.
It is conducted between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force.
The 2025 edition is taking place at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France.
Air exercises involve training in air combat, operational coordination, and strategic readiness for both participating forces.
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